Date:         Tue, 17 Oct 2000 22:10:52 +1200
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject:      Re: vanagon nose damage
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Try to find an outfit specializing in rust repairs and genuine
restorations, if you value your VW. These guys SHOULD know how to cut and
weld properly, and make the repair rustproof.

I took my Galant Sigme in to several shops for quotes for straightening the
front enough to align the headlights, but NO aesthetic work, just enough to
get it streetworthy (no, I didn't crash it, I bought it as a shunted
insurance writeoff...had to stretch the body using a cable & LandCruiser so
the rear door could shut). Quotes varied from $250 to $900 ($125-450US),
with the best outfit giving the lowest quote.

If you can, have a look at some of the jobs they've done or are doing, to
see whether they cut corners, and how they finished work looks.

I've had a number of jobs done on our Toyota taxis, and they have ALL been
slapdash; one has ruined the vehicle.


Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
VW & mollusc nut
1984 Caravelle (currently SVX engine waiting for a trans)
1985 Mitsubishi Galant Sigma 2.0 (FWD)
1986 CE80 Toyota Corolla 1.8DX diesel
1989 CE96 Toyota Corolla 1.8DX van/wagon
1989 CT170 Toyota Corona Select 2.0 diesel